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Jan 25 2007

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Jordan: Lower House to hold special session on Karameh Dam

The House decision was prompted by a letter signed by 63 deputies calling for an immediate investigation to find out why the dam did not live up to its potential.

The embankment dam in Wadi Mallaha, constructed in 1997, was primarily designed to store surplus winter flows and intended to assist in the development of irrigation in the southern zone of the Jordan Valley.

During construction of the reservoir, it was predicted that the dam would be emptied several times in order to clear the salt concentration in the water.

Karameh Dam, the second-largest dam in the Kingdom with a maximum capacity of 56mcm of water, was flushed several times over the past few years in order to reduce the concentration of salt, but farmers are yet to benefit from its water.

Also on Wednesday, deputies endorsed an amendment to an article in the 2002 Penal Code regarding auto theft.

According to the amendment, the penalty for individuals who are convicted of stealing a car, or dismantling it to sell the parts, should not be less than three months, without the option of replacing the jail term with a fine.

Normally, convicted individuals have the right to replace a sentence of three months or less with a fine, if the judge agrees to it.

In a letter attached to the draft amendment, the government said it was imperative to impose tough penalties since the Kingdom was witnessing an unprecedented increase in car theft.

The Lower House also referred the draft amendment to the Sharia Courts Law to the Legal Committee.

Under the amendment, public servants with bachelors' degrees in Islamic Sharia, who also have established experience in the legal system, can sit for exams to become judges.

In addition, deputies referred the Audit Bureau reports for 2004 and 2006 to the Financial Committee for study and recommendations.

Several lawmakers criticised the bureau for what they described as "Constitutional violations," for not presenting its reports regularly to the Parliament.

Majali said Bureau officials had promised him they would provide the House with copies of the 2005 report within two weeks.

During yesterday's session, deputies also referred the draft law on Al al Bayt Foundation for Islamic Studies to the National Guidance Committee for recommendations.

The bill seeks to give the foundation the authority to carry out its duties and specifies its goals and means to achieve them, according to a letter attached to the draft law.

Deputies also approved an amendment to the Aqaba Railway Corporation Law, which allows the government to turn it into a company as a first step before privatising it.

Meanwhile, Majali urged the government to respond to deputies' inquiries within the time frame set by the Constitution and House regulations.

According to Article 96 of the Constitution, government officials must reply to an inquiry by a deputy within eight days of the request.

Prime Minister Marouf Bakhit told deputies that responses to certain questions needed more time, especially if officials have to refer to old records or certain studies.

Majali adjourned the session until next Sunday to continue deliberating the civil aviation draft law, after deputies endorsed the first three articles of the bill.

By Mohammad Ben Hussein

© Jordan Times 2007